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Gay marriage bill slated for next week

A change to the law to allow same-sex marriage could be introduced to parliament as early as next Thursday.

The results of the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey will be released on November 15, a day before the Senate is scheduled to debate what is known as "private senators bills".

Liberal senator Dean Smith said he would move his bill to allow same-sex marriage "as soon as practically possible" after a majority "yes" vote is known.

"It could be next week, most definitely," he told the ABC on Thursday.

Under pressure from conservative coalition colleagues, who are drafting their own bill, Senator Smith said it made sense for his bill - for which he is expected to give notice on Tuesday - to be the "starting bill".

"It already enjoys cross party support, it enjoys the support of some Liberals already," he said.

He said if there were any improvements to the bill they should be released in detail before next Wednesday.

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More than a dozen members of the Turnbull government are preparing alternative legislation that includes "expansive protections" for religious freedoms.

Senator Smith's bill - which has the in-principle endorsement of Labor - allows same-sex couples to wed, while creating exemptions for religious organisations that would allow them to refuse to conduct same-sex marriages.

The conservatives want to go further by legislating protections for parents and schools with strong religious views.

"(It would) allow those schools to teach their students about the traditional view of marriage without necessarily having to provide the full spectrum of views on marriage," Liberal MP Ian Goodenough told ABC radio.

But Liberal colleague Warren Entsch, who helped draft the Smith bill, said there would be "very little tolerance" for a group of individuals trying to manipulate the legislative process or "kicking the can down the road".

Labor Senate leader Penny Wong said the opposition was not prepared to look at another delaying and blocking tactic from the same people who had opposed marriage equality every single step of the way.

"If the 'no' case loses ... they need to get over it and they need to get out of the way," she said.

The Senate sits by itself for a week starting Monday, but both houses sit for the final business fortnight of the year from November 27 to December 7.